This draft NPS Assessment Report provides a view of current conditions and considers those best management practices (BMPs) which might prove applicable to the pollution concerns on the reservation. Feedback will be sought until publication of the report is made, expected sometime in late 2013.

Located in a rural area that is approximately 35 miles northeast of the city of Reno, Nevada, the reservation of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe contains 477,000 acres and one of the world’s most beautiful desert terminus lakes. Non-point source pollution (water degradation by a mobile, random, or large-scale source) is a concern for the Tribe, and subsequent to a large planning effort in 1994, current pollution issues have been studied and categorized in new ways. While many kinds of waters exist on the reservation, current needs have been identified for Pyramid Lake, the Truckee River, and for perennial streams in the tribal reservation mountains. Even after years of research, more water quality questions remain to be investigated. The draft NPS Assessment Report provides a view of current conditions and considers those best management pracictes (BMPs) which might prove applicable to the pollution concerns on the reservation.

Introduction: Section 208 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) requires planning and management of all sources of water pollution and defines the parameters for area-wide wastewater treatment management plans. This update of the Washoe County 208 Water Quality Management Plan (208 Plan) revises the 1994 208 Plan Amendment to address effects of recent Truckee Meadows Service Area (TMSA) boundary adjustments, continuing growth and development in the area, and to provide water quality planning to a horizon year of 2030. Updated aspects of the plan include the 208 planning area boundaries, water quality of surface and groundwater systems, population and wastewater flow projections, wastewater treatment systems, point and non-point source management, water reclamation, agency coordination, and overall water quality planning.

Democratic senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer joined Nevada's two senators to introduce the proposed Lake Tahoe Restoration Act, which would authorize $415 million over 10 years to improve the lake's water clarity and protect the basin from wildfire.

The bill, co-sponsored by Democrat Harry Reid and Republican John Ensign of Nevada, proposes funding for a range of projects, including watershed restoration and storm-water management, two key factors in maintaining the lake's renowned water clarity.

In addition, the bill would set aside $136 million for fuels-reduction projects to help protect the Tahoe basin and its landowners from fires, and for removal of invasive species.

The legislation is a follow-up to a 2000 law that provided $453.8 million to maintain the environmental health of the Tahoe basin.

Despite the appearance of more algae attached to submerged rocks in the near-shore areas of Lake Tahoe, scientists are reluctant to ascribe the apparent increase to actual population growth.

Scott Hackley, staff research associate at TERC and principal author of the “Lake Tahoe Water Quality Investigations,” said he has heard people who frequent the near-shore area report an increase in periphyton (a mixture of algae and other bacteria) growth this year, but said the algal population fluctuates year to year based on “an interaction of factors.”

“I would caution those that rely on anecdotal or visual evidence,” he said. “We have been compiling data since the 1980s. We are continuing to collect data and we will look to identify trends or dramatic shifts over a sustained period of time.”

Save the Date! September 27-29, 2011 at DRI.The purpose of this symposium is to communicate, investigate and evaluate science along the river.

Discussions will provide an understanding of Truckee River's important role in supporting northern Nevada and eastern California, while serving as a valuable resource to others who utilize the river. One element of this program is to provide all groups who work within the watershed a comprehensive understanding of what their colleagues are doing, and to bring critical Truckee River issues to the table for discussion. Drought, water quality, water resources, technical considerations and ecological elements will be discussed, with a mix of research, environmental, management and recreational perspectives included.

Truckee Meadows Water Systems of Reno is providing free arsenic testing for residents of Northern Nevada with drinking water supplies coming from private wells.

“Municipal water providers test their water and, if the arsenic levels are high, notify customers. Unfortunately, private well users usually have no idea if their arsenic levels exceed the EPA limit of 10 parts per billion until it's too late.” said Mike Guidara, company president, in a press release.

Arsenic in high doses causes cancer of the lungs, bladder, kidneys and skin. Once ingested, it accumulates in the body.

“The government has allocated grant money for public water supplies, but not for homes drawing from private wells. We've seen local wells at over 100 parts per billion and now, there is talk of lowering the EPA standard to 3-5 parts per billion” Guidara said.

Trout Unlimited and the Sierra Business Council will hold the second annual Great Sierra River Cleanup on the Truckee River from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Last year more than 3,500 volunteers joined together to remove more than 130 tons of trash and recyclables from Sierra rivers during the first Great Sierra River Cleanup, organized by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.

More than 100 community groups spread across 22 counties and 500 river miles will pull appliances, cigarette butts, beverage cans, baby diapers, tires, furniture and more from the rivers and streams that supply the state of California with 65 percent of its water.

Somersett's Weir'd Stream, A Study." This study was completed by UNR Ecohydrology students working under Mark Walker's supervision. Data gathered and assessed include: conditions, slope, UTM, rate of discharge, water quality, and physical characteristics.

Nevada DEP listed Alum Creek as impaired in the 2006 draft NV 303(d) list. Mark Walker of UNR and UNCE, worked with City of Reno, NV State Lands, and Caughlin Ranch HOA to develop an understanding of impairments, and began field assessments with EcoHydrology students. The TMWRF lab analyzed water quality samples for the group; this presentation is the result of the study.

Nevada DEP listed Alum Creek as impaired in the 2006 draft NV 303(d) list. The Truckee Meadows Watershed Committee (www.tmstormwater.com) has assessed this tributary of the Truckee River in years past, noting tremendous scour and erosion events with stormwater flows. The City of Reno began collaborating with the Caughlin Ranch Homeowners Association and Nevada State Lands to evaluate land use that may be contributing to the watershed issues. Mark Walker of UNR and UNCE, worked with these partners as well as the TMWRF laboratory for sample analysis, and began field assessments with EcoHydrology students to develop an understanding of impairments on Alum Creek. This presentation is the result of the study, and if possible, data will be contributed to NDEP for use in the 303(d) process.